Regulations disrupt rice production and availability in Nigeria

In 2019 Nigeria placed a hefty 70% tariffs on all rice imports coming through ports and closed its land borders altogether to stamp out smuggling, often from neighboring countries.
Despite increased productivity, producers are unable to meet local demand as a result of manual methods and the new restrictions on movement placed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
While domestic crops and capacity go to waste, the imports the country relies on have also dried up as major suppliers, including India, Vietnam and Cambodia, have reduced or even banned rice exports to make sure their countries have enough food to cope with the pandemic.